Recent data indicates a troubling trend in cancer rates within the Corn Belt states—specifically Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, and Kansas. While other regions of the U.S. are seeing a decrease, these areas have experienced a significant uptick.
To investigate this phenomenon, the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center convened a panel of experts. Among them was Dr. Marian Neuhauser, a specialist in nutrition and obesity from Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
Dr. Neuhauser shared that the committee was formed upon noticing that Iowa’s cancer rates were rising more rapidly than in other states. Analysis leveraging federal health datasets has shown that since the mid-2010s, cancer diagnoses have surpassed the national average in these six Corn Belt states.
Back in 1999, cancer rates in the Midwest aligned closely with the national figures. Now, however, they are approximately 5% higher for residents aged 15 to 49—a divergence that began in the 2000s and is now evident. This conclusion is drawn from findings published utilizing data from the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As the panel continues its research, they are delving into both environmental and lifestyle factors that may be contributing to this increased incidence of cancer. Dr. Neuhauser noted that many of these cancers are preventable or detectable through regular screenings.
The Iowa Cancer Registry suggests that factors like outdoor UV exposure and high rates of binge drinking could play a role. Moreover, the Iowa Environmental Health Sciences Research Center designates the state as a “hot spot” for environmental carcinogen exposure. Reports indicate that the soil and groundwater in the region hold some of the highest natural radon and nitrate levels in the U.S., largely due to agricultural fertilizer use, which is linked to higher lung and gastrointestinal cancer risks.
Discussions around the impact of pesticides and herbicides, especially glyphosate, are ongoing among scientists and regulators. Dr. Anne McTiernan, also from Fred Hutch, analyzed extensive research regarding glyphosate’s effects on cancer risk. She pointed out that the World Health Organization classifies it as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Her review indicates farm workers exposed to high concentrations face a roughly 40% increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma compared to those without such exposure.
On top of these concerns, lifestyle factors further complicate the issue. In Iowa, about 21% of adults report engaging in binge drinking, surpassing the national average of 17%. Additionally, approximately 35% of Iowa adults are considered obese, a rate that places it among the states with the highest obesity figures, whereas the national rate stands at about 40%. Dr. Neuhauser highlighted that obesity is linked to 13 different types of cancer, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of cancer risk.
“While there’s often a desire to attribute cancer risk to a singular element, it’s typically the result of various interconnected factors,” she noted.
